Bissing, Peter "Petrowitsch"

Peter Bissing, son of Justus Bissing & Margaretha Katharina Günther, was born in 23 December 1872 in Katharinenstadt and was later known by his stage name of Petrowitsch Bissing. His family immigrated to the United States arriving on 23 November 1875 in Baltimore aboard the SS Ohio. They settled in Ellis County, Kansas.

He learned music on a four-octave organ built by his father, and at the age of 8 began to learn the violin. He later studied violin at the Chicago College of Music alongside jazz violinist Eddie South and finished violin instruction under Francis Boucher. He also was an instructor of Walter Wenzel.

On 2 January 1901, Mr. Bissing founded Bissing's Conservatory of Music in Hays, Kansas, where he offered instruction in voice, piano, violin, and organ.  In June 1903, he received an invitation to study in Prague under Otakar Sevcik. He returned in 1906 and reorganized his teaching conservatory in Topeka, Kansas. He is the author of a book titled Cultivation of the Violin Vibrato Tone.

On January 2, 1901, Bissing began the Bissing Conservatory of Music and offered instruction in vocal, piano, violin, organ, harmony and composition. But it was in June 1903 when Bissing received an invitation to study at Prague under Otakar Sevcik. Bissing left to complete his studies and returned to Topeka in 1906 to reorganized his teaching conservatory. Upon returning, he adopted the stage name of Petrowitsch Bissing.

Petrowitsch Bissing died on 30 November 1961 in Wisconsin and is buried in St. Joseph Cemetery in River Grove (Chicago), Illinois.